Generations leave influence on Tomball

Tomball residents may not know the history of the Klein family, but they are almost certain to recognize the name.

The Klein name can be seen in many places throughout the city. Klein Memorial Park is on FM 2920; Klein Financial operates on Keefer Road; and the sign for the Klein supermarket—perhaps the most famous of the family businesses—is still displayed by its first Tomball location, which now serves as a resale shop for the Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries.

The Klein legacy in the area began when Adam Klein—originally from Germany—purchased land in 1854 in the area north of Houston. The community eventually became known as Klein because Adam relentlessly petitioned the government to install a post office there, said Jeffery Klein, Adam's great-great grandson.

"There was no name for the area and there was this Klein guy who kept bugging them to put a post office in," he said. "So they did and named it Klein Post Office."

Years later, in 1922, Adam's grandson—and Jeffrey's grandfather—Alec Benjamin Klein, known as A.B. Klein, opened Klein Brother's General Merchandise in Spring.

"Back in those days, it was not unusual for the general merchandise stores to also carry caskets," Jeffrey said. "That's what led him to start the Klein's Funeral Home portion in 1929."

A. B. moved his business to a larger facility in Tomball in 1933, after the Humble Oil Company struck oil there. It was around this time that he changed the name of his store to Klein's Fine Foods.

"Right away, Tomball went from a sleepy town to a real growing area with oil," Jeffrey said.

From that point, the Kleins' grew right along with the community, opening separate buildings for a feed store and a new funeral home in the early '40s, and helping found the Tomball Rotary Club and the original Tomball Hospital.

"My grandfather was the person who made the Tomball Hospital happen," Jeffrey said. "He was the president of Tomball Hospital board, which he had put on his gravestone. It was very important to him."

Klein's Fine Foods continued to grow into a supermarket at 1200 W. Main St. It played a vital role in the community up until it closed in 2009.

"[Klein's] was a common ground for so many people in Tomball for so many years," Jeffrey said.

Jeffrey said he believes the Klein name represents a sense of community service.

"If [the Kleins] saw a need—whether it's a hospital, larger supermarket or new funeral home—they have always been active getting things done," he said. "And it all started with my great-great grandfather and the post office."

Klein Brothers lives on

Even though Klein Brothers no longer has a physical storefront, Jeffrey Klein continues to provide the community with the store's more distinctive goods through other local venues and online at www.nativetexanfoods.com.

• Products include sauces, salsas, jams, coffee, honey and snack mixes.

Granny's Korner in Tomball and Spring Creek Growers in Magnolia stock the products, as well as Kroger locations throughout the Houston area

• Best sellers include Fredericksberg Peach Jam, Fire Roasted Salsa and Raspberry Chipotle Sauce